Robottom, 50, a career educator who became former Parish President Nickie Monica's chief administrative assistant for four years, lost to former Parish President Bill Hubbard in a 2007 runoff election by 172 votes. Less than two years later, Hubbard pleaded guilty to a bribery charge and resigned.

Natalie Robottom

Robottom said her stint in parish government and in the school system, as well as a life of volunteerism, give her the tools to erase the perception that the government is corrupt.

"The culture needs to change," she said. "The stamp that will be on my administration will be an openness, a transparency."

Robottom and four other candidates face off in a March 27 election to serve the remainder of Hubbard's expired term, which ends in January 2012. A runoff, if needed, will be held May 1.

The parish president oversees a $59 million budget,supervises approximately 200 employees and makes $123,318 a year.

The other candidates seeking the job are Perry Bailey of Edgard, Gary "Buddy" Boe of LaPlace, Gerald Keller of Reserve and Richard "Dale" Wolfe of Reserve.

To combat the perception that parish government is corrupt, Robottom said she will require appointed parish department heads to disclose their financial interests, as elected officials now have to do. She also said she will discuss similar disclosures for assistant district attorneys who serve as the parish's legal counsel, with District Attorney Tom Daley.

She also says she has the experience to make the government perform in a cost-efficient manner.

"We need someone with a knowledge of how government works, or how it should work, and move us out of our current situation and forward into our future," she said.

Robottom grew up in Abbeville, near Lafayette, where she met her husband, Hernendez, while attending the University of Southwestern Louisiana at Lafayette. She has lived in the parish for 28 years.

She accepted a position as parish manager in Terrebonne Parish after losing to Hubbard in 2007, but took a job as director of community programs in the Bobby Jindal administration three weeks later. The department supervises the offices of elderly and disability affairs and as well as committees dealing with women's issues and juvenile justice.

"I got a call from someone from the governor's office on the evening of my first day on the job," she said.

Robottom said the contacts she made in the Jindal administration will help St. John.

"During two years in that job, I've established friendships with other department heads. Those relationships are something that no one else in this race has," she said. "Knowing that I was coming back to St. John, they offered their assistance."

Robottom resigned the $87,500-per-year job to start her campaign after Hubbard's resignation.

"I didn't want to be criticized campaigning while I was working for the governor, and realistically, I could not run a campaign from Baton Rouge."

While Boe, an assistant to the president in Hubbard's administration, criticizes previous administrations for doing little to solve St. John's long-term problems, Robottom counters that the Hubbard administration reaped a sales tax windfall from the Marathon refinery expansion.

"We were coming out of a time when we were being squeezed for dollars into a time when there was an excess of funds," she said.

Robottom said the Monica administration made strides toward improving the parish's recreation programs.

"Is it where it needs to be? My answer, like the others, is no. But we've made strides over the last few years. Strides that were not there before," including neighborhood parks, she said at a forum sponsored by the parish's Recreation Board.

Asked about friction between the parish's white and black communities, an issue that has come up during candidate forums, Robottom said she is the person to help heal the wounds.

If elected, she would be the first African-American and first woman to hold the office, but Robottom emphasizes her ability to bring people together.

"My campaign is inclusive and my life is inclusive. I don't think my administration will be any different," she said.

Longtime friend Peggy Joseph of LaPlace, a retired school secretary, said that based on her observations, Robottom will be fair to everyone.

"She was very caring and attentive to her students," she said. "She has a heart and a passion for people."

NATALIE H. ROBOTTOMPersonal
• 50, Born in Abbeville. Lives in LaPlace.
• Married; two children.
• Graduated from Abbeville, High School; B.A., University of Southwestern La., 1981; M.A., Louisiana State University, 1985.
• Resigned as Louisiana director of community programs after 2 years to seek presidency.
• Chief administrative assistant, St. John the Baptist Parish, 4 years.
• Served as acting chief finance officer, St. John the Baptist Parish, during first two years.
• Special education administrator, St. John Parish Schools, 15 years.
• Speech-language pathologist, St. John Parish Schools, 8 years.
• Member, St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, LaPlace.Political
• Democrat, since 1978. First run for public office.
• Joined Nickie Monica administration as chief administrative assistant at the start of his second term in 2004.
• Worked as volunteer in Nickie Monica campaigns of 1999 and 2003.Philosophy and platform
• Restore public faith in government by instituting the strictest code of governmental ethics in the state and have zero tolerance for corruption.
• Develop program to support existing businesses while attracting new ones with good-paying jobs.
• Work with school system to ensure proper educational and training opportunities.
• Complete upgrades to parish water systems.
• Make hurricane and disaster preparedness a top priority.
• Use bond money approved by residents to make needed road and drainage improvements and complete a new I-10 interchange in Reserve.More information
• www.natalierobottom.com